Tobacco Control Policy-related Survey by Landline and Mobile Telephone

Aim: to collect further information on issues related to tobacco control which should be addressed and advocated in further tobacco control measures in Hong Kong

The objectives of this policy-related survey by landline and mobile telephone are as follows:

1. to update information on prevalence of conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn tobacco products and waterpipe tobaccos ;
2. to investigate the effects of new pictorial health warning policy in the public;
3. to investigate the level of public support on current and future tobacco control measures and taxation;
4. to address the timely impacts of smoke-free policies, public support for further tobacco control measures and assist COSH in shaping policy direction for government;

Current study is a cross-sectional retrospective landline and mobile telephone survey based on questionnaires. The target sample size is planned to be 5,100 Hong Kong residents, including 1,700 current, ex and never smokers respectively. All three smoking status are to be evenly sampled by landline and mobile telephone. All data will be collected using a Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) system, which allows real-time data capture and consolidation. All interviews shall be conducted anonymously except for those who are willing to participate subsequent studies pictorial warning opinion. Analysis of survey data will aim to identify current opinion on tobacco control policies and implications for future policies. All eligible subjects who complete the telephone survey will be included in the analysis. Comparison with past trends conducted by previous landline and mobile phone surveys and, where possible, extrapolation of future trends will be explored. Weightings will be applied to adjust for the sex and age of Hong Kong population, and to handle the over-sampling issues of ex- and current smokers. The data analysis will be conducted by experienced statisticians in the applicants' team.